All they did that first year was plant a bunch of pumpkins. “A couple” acres, Mark Van Buren will say. (“It seemed like ten,” his wife, Catherine Baird, will add.) They did it just for fun, to see what would happen — maybe they’d share with neighbors or invite some kids over to pick them. After all, can one really go wrong with planting pumpkins? Turns out, the pumpkins were such a hit that the Van Burens planted them again. “The following year, we decided to open up the farm to the public and, one, sell the pumpkins that we planted; but also for agritourism,” Catherine says. “Make it a place for family and friends to come out and learn about agriculture and the farm animals, but also just enjoy being with each other.” “It just grew,” Mark says. “It grew from planting pumpkins.” And that’s how, seven years later, Baird and the Van Burens — Mark and his brother, David — came to be the proud owners and operators of a 20-acre autumn entertainment mecca that boasts everything from pig races to a petting zoo. …And, of course, lots and lots of pumpkins.
“When we started, we had two (or) three buildings, and then just over time, we added — we’re up to seven different food venues,” Mark says. “We keep adding. We do pick your own pumpkins and keep adding more and more pumpkins; we add animals, and a lot of different activities.” The sprawling property in Hebron just off Interstate 70 boasts plenty of outdoor playspace for visitors to run around and explore, with dedicated nooks for keeping the littlest guests corralled (gigantic corn pit, anyone?). A perennial favorite is the pig races, which take place at regularly scheduled intervals in a dedicated pen close to the front of the property. A mom-approved “jumping pillow” provides generous windows of entertainment while guardians look on, and staying true to their agritourism roots, a pen with goats, pigs and calves, for example, is always available for city dwellers and suburbanites to stop by and marvel and the very real aspects of country life that they don’t often get to see up close. “When we did this, we wanted to make it family friendly, but we also want to be an educational point for it. So that’s why with the animals, it’s really fun to see especially the (city) schools come out…they’ve never seen a pig; they don’t understand goats, let alone a cow,” Mark says. “And it’s really fun to watch those kids interact with them, and also see the corn. The corn maze — it’s amazing to go through it, but they actually see that corn and they say, ‘Wow, we didn’t know where corn came from!’” The Van Burens are dedicated to staying up to date on the latest in agritourism, belonging to a consortium of hundreds of farms where they can visit and glean new ideas. 2023 saw the addition of a permanent putt-putt feature, and ideas are already being discussed for future seasons. Even before pumpkin season — beginning in early September — visitors can stop by the farm to wander through acres of zinnias and sunflowers, where photo-ops (and, you know, flowers) are available in abundance. The farm debuts its 10-acre corn maze — a hit with guests of all ages — in September. 2023’s “Winnie the Pooh” theme featured the lovable bear floating on a balloon next to a honey tree while Eyore and Piglet look on; past themes have included Dolly Parton and Pac-Man, among others. Mark and Catherine also encourage guests to come hungry, because the farm offers an abundance of options to sustain hungry adventurers throughout the day — whether it’s pulled pork and macaroni and cheese, house-made donuts or an apple cider slushie, the family wants to make sure guests are taken care of. “Come with an empty stomach, because we can make sure you leave full,” Mark says. While there’s no shortage of pumpkin farms to visit across Licking County, the Van Burens hope visitors will diversify their fun and make the most of all the county has to offer this time of year. “We hope everybody visits all of (the pumpkin farms), because we think it’s great that they get out in nature and support agriculture. But I think we’re very family friendly and we try to offer a variety of activities for people of all ages,” Mark says.
“We’re very fortunate at Licking County to have a lot of good farms,” Catherine adds. “We’re just one of them, and we want people to visit all of them.” For Mark and Catherine, being able to set aside a moment to watch the happenings on the property is, in itself, a reward. “It’s fulfilling,” Mark says. “I mean, it’s really special when you look at everything we’ve done over seven years, and people enjoy it and the kids enjoy it. And the kids aren’t on their phones walking around the park — they’re actually out doing things that we did when we were kids, and that’s what I like.”
When Trent Beers experienced New England apple cider — the grown-up variety, specifically — he knew he’d found a gem worth exploring. While Licking County boasts a number of top-notch brewery and wineries, a cidery was something the market lacked — and which Beers decided to change by opening Seek-No-Further Cidery. “I just really felt like it was something that was lacking around Central Ohio and here in Granville, being in proximity to quite a few orchards,” he says, noting the opportunities for partnership abound. “It just seemed to be a natural fit for Granville.” Opened in 2021, the cidery offers a lineup of “really apple-focused” ciders that overthrow the perception that all cider has to be exceptionally sweet and syrupy, Beers says, adding that his establishment uses local apples whenever it can. The cidery offers tasting flights with information about each of the ciders, including what orchard the apples come from. The vibe is intentionally laid-back — “it’s a place you can come to and you don’t feel like you have to rush out,” Beers says. “There’s really just an atmosphere that encourages people to hang out.” So whether you’re sipping the latest by the fire pit or watching the kids use the readily available supply of sidewalk chalk and enjoy nonalcoholic slushies, Beers hopes you’ll take your time. Beers also is the owner of The Lot Beer. Co., another Granville hotspot where Gen Z-ers and Millennials can bond over friendly-ish games of skeeball, smash burgers, and pitchers of PBR.
While The Lot is a craft brewery, Beers admits that it’s not afraid to serve up easy-drinking beer as a nod to many customers’ “good old days.” “We pride ourselves on having some light, sort of nostalgic beer options,” Beers says. The name of the game here is fun. The Lot’s menu includes tailgate-inspired dishes like burgers and hot dogs, as well as carnival-esque items (because who can turn down funnel fries?). Meanwhile, vintage arcade games like Pac-Man and Ninja Turtles offer nonstop entertainment for guests of all ages. “You’ll get 60-year-old people in that maybe played these games when they were kids or when they were younger, and then you also get teenagers to just get the nostalgia of it and enjoy it,” Beers says. “It’s really a wide range of people that seem to enjoy the arcade.”
Named after a legendary “black hand” — a Native American petroglyph once engraved on the face of a cliff on the north side of the Licking River — Blackhand Gorge remains in Licking County as a spot with abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation. The nearly 800-acre preserve in eastern Licking County is a stunning combination of scenery, from the massive sandstone cliffs that tower above the Licking River to the mix of deciduous and evergreen trees that put on a show all year long. Ten miles of trails, both paved and unpaved, offer opportunities for hikers and bikers of all ages and abilities. The paved Blackhand Trail, in particular, is easily accessible and user-friendly. While the “hand” is no longer visible — it was destroyed during the construction of the Ohio-Erie Canal in the 1820s — the property boasts no shortage of things to see and do. At certain places in the preserve, pieces of the former canal are visible and accessible; walk through the empty canal locks and imagine boats passing through in bygone days. In the fall, take in the varied foliage against the backdrop of the Licking River and rock and you’re sure tobe impressed at the scenery that has captivated generations of hikers.
A taste of home cooking, in the heart of small town Ohio. Does it get any better? At Watts Restaurant — a century long staple in Utica, now owned by the same couple behind the revamped and expanded Mill Street Distillery — the toughest part of your visit will be deciding which slice of pie to enjoy (but trust us when we say you can’t really go wrong here; in fact, maybe buy a whole pie, just to be safe). The restaurant prides itself on downhome dishes that satisfy your appetite and make you nostalgic for Grandma’s cooking: Favorites on rotation include fried chicken, meatloaf, and beef & noodles, along with stick-to-your-ribs sides like mashed potatoes and gravy. Breakfast also is served — hearty enough to get you through a challenging morning at work, or at least a commute to the Big City. Located along Utica’s historic Main Street, Watts has built upon generations of customer loyalty to serve up staples that are prepared from the heart and plated with pride. Whether you’re longing for a taste of nostalgia or just looking to try something new, be sure to put Watts on your list. You’re certain not to leave hungry. (But maybe grab some pie to go, just in case.)
